One of the biggest events on Scotland’s music calendar will return for a ninth year in October.
Thousands of fans flock to the Perthshire Amber festival every autumn to see legendary musician Dougie MacLean in action, and this year will be no exception.
A stellar line-up of stars has been unveiled, including award-winning songwriter Karine Polwart, Capercaillie’s Karen Matheson and AMWWF (Anderson, McGinty, Webster, Ward and Fisher).
Mystery also surrounds a new collaboration, known only as the MacLean Project. Very few details have been released about the super-group, but they have been described as a “perfect weave of sensitivity and power”.
More than 300 musicians will play at the 10-day event, which takes place at venues across Perthshire from October 25 until November 3.
The festival, the brainchild of Dougie and his wife Jennifer, welcomes visitors from across the globe and provides a significant boost to the economy.
Dougie explained his thinking in setting up the festival, saying: “I have played a lot of festivals in 39 years as a musician and I always thought, wouldn’t it be nice to bring the musician friends that I’ve made over the years to play in my home region?
“Perthshire is especially remarkable to visit in the autumn time and I’m always very proud to bring new people to the area, as well as welcome back my old friends to the stage and audience.”
The songwriter, who recently collected a lifetime achievement from the BBC Folk Awards and was also awarded an OBE in 2010 for his services to music and charity work, will host many of the events.
He added: “I really hope this year’s line-up will enthuse people as much as it has the festival team. We feel there will be a very fresh and exciting vibe.
“It’s going to be a great one and I can’t wait.”
Although the hub of the festival will return to Dunkeld, a number of events will take place throughout Highland Perthshire.
Highlights include the Hazey Janes at Aberfeldy Town Hall, Ross Ainslie and Jarlath Henderson in Pitlochry, and a performance by Tim Edey, Charlie McKerron and Dougie in Dunkeld Cathedral.
For further information, go online to www.perthshireamber.com.
Tickets go on sale tomorrow at 4pm and are available from the website, or by calling 01350 724281.